{"id":"F2017L00699","name":"Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (Declaration Deferral Period) Declaration 2017","slug":"telecommunications-universal-service-obligation-declaration-deferral-period-declaration-2017","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":96517,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2017L00699-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (Declaration Deferral Period) Declaration 2017","content":"Commonwealth of Australia\n\nTelecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999\n\nTelecommunications Universal Service Obligation\n\n(Declaration Deferral Period)\n\nDeclaration 2017\n\nI, MITCH FIFIELD, Minister for Communications, make the following Declaration.\n\nDated 16 June 2017\n\nMITCH FIFIELD\n\nMinister for Communications\n\n1.  Name of Declaration\n\nThis Declaration is the Telecommunications Universal Service Obligation (Declaration Deferral Period) Declaration 2017.\n\n2. Commencement\n\nThis Declaration commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.\n\n3. Authority\n\nThis Declaration is made under paragraphs 8J(1)(b) and 8K(1)(b) of the Act.\n\n4. Definitions\n\nIn this Declaration:\n\n> Act means the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.\n\n> Note: The term declaration deferral period is defined in sections 8J and 8K of the Act.\n\n5. Declaration\n\nThe 24\\-month period starting immediately after this Declaration is made is the declaration deferral period for the purposes of sections 8J and 8K of the Act.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the narrow technical function it was designed for—setting a 24-month deferral period. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short instrument (only 5 sections)","Only 1 defined term ('Act')","No cross-references to other legislation beyond the enabling Act sections","Simple declarative structure with no conditional logic or exceptions","Single operative provision (section 5) with straightforward temporal calculation"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a short legal instrument made by the Minister for Communications in 2017. It creates a **24-month waiting period** (called a \"declaration deferral period\") before certain telecommunications rules can take effect.\n\n**What it does:**\n- Delays the start of specific Universal Service Obligation (USO) declaration processes by 24 months\n- The USO is the legal requirement ensuring all Australians have access to basic telephone services (and now broadband)\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Telecommunications companies (especially Telstra, which traditionally held the USO)\n- The Australian Government and regulators setting up new USO arrangements\n- Potentially rural and regional consumers who rely on guaranteed service standards\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis deferral period gave the government breathing room to transition from the old USO system (where Telstra was the default provider) to a new competitive arrangement. It essentially hit \"pause\" on certain statutory deadlines while new infrastructure (like the NBN) was being rolled out and new funding mechanisms were being designed."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"No change to substantive scope: the Declaration only designates the length of the 'declaration deferral period' as 24 months for the purposes of ss 8J and 8K (s 5). It does not amend the Act or alter the underlying Universal Service Obligation duties. Made by the Minister under paras 8J(1)(b) and 8K(1)(b) (s 3). Financial or compliance burdens are not specified in this instrument."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-reference dependence: the Declaration’s legal effect is defined only by reference to sections 8J and 8K of the Act (see s 5 and Note in s 4), requiring consultation of external provisions to know substantive impact.","Limited substantive content: the instrument only sets a temporal parameter (24 months) and does not amend substantive rules (see s 5).","Immediate commencement rule: commencement is tied to registration (s 2), producing an automatic start date.","Ministerial source of power: made under paras 8J(1)(b) and 8K(1)(b) of the Act (s 3), so interpretation rests on statutory delegation and those provisions.","Low operational complexity but high interpretive reliance: operationally simple to apply (a fixed period), but practical consequences depend entirely on the scope of ss 8J/8K."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument, made under the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999, declares that a 24‑month “declaration deferral period” begins the day after it is registered. It applies for the purposes of sections 8J and 8K of the Act and therefore determines the timetable that governs the obligations and parties covered by those sections, under the Minister’s statutory authority."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/telecommunications-universal-service-obligation-declaration-deferral-period-declaration-2017","history":"/api/acts/telecommunications-universal-service-obligation-declaration-deferral-period-declaration-2017/history","analysis":"/api/acts/telecommunications-universal-service-obligation-declaration-deferral-period-declaration-2017/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/telecommunications-universal-service-obligation-declaration-deferral-period-declaration-2017/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/telecommunications-universal-service-obligation-declaration-deferral-period-declaration-2017/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/telecommunications-universal-service-obligation-declaration-deferral-period-declaration-2017/documents"}}